The structure of leucanicidin, a novel insecticidal macrolide produced by Streptomyces halstedii.

Abstract

In the course of our screening search for insect growth regulators, we found that the mycelial extract of Streptomyces halstedii markedly showed insecticidal activity in an aseptic feeding assay with the commonarmyworm,Leucania separata.l) In this paper we wish to make a preliminary report on the structural elucidation of the insecticidal principle named leucanicidin (1). The mycelia of Streptomyces halstedii was extracted with acetone. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, the active substance was transferred to chloroform. Leucanicidin (1)